“Alright, Father, buy a bit more. We still owe a few families money, so let’s send them some extra meat to show our appreciation. Once we’ve saved enough, we’ll pay off all the debts.”
So the family set out shopping, buying cloth, cotton, pork, and other necessities.
Back home, Zhao Lanzhi saw all the purchases and asked,
“Father, why did you buy so much? Where did the money come from?”
“Mother, come inside, I’ll explain everything,” Tang Dashan said. Once inside, he recounted the story of selling herbs in detail.
Zhao Lanzhi was astonished.
“Ah? You sold that much? Looks like our family is going to prosper. All this money belongs to our daughter—she earned it.” She immediately picked up the money pouch and tried to hand it to Tang Yunshu.
Tang Yunshu quickly waved her hand, saying,
“Mother, that’s not right. I’m your daughter, and the whole family helped gather the herbs. I didn’t separate from the family, so the money belongs to all of us. From now on, you can keep track of our earnings. The more we sell, the more money we’ll make. Unless, of course, you don’t want me as your daughter anymore.”
“Dear daughter, my good daughter, how could I ever mean that? I would never reject my daughter. Alright, I’ll keep the money and save it for your dowry.”
“Mother, I’m only thirteen. That’s still too early. Let’s save the money for my brothers to get married first.”
The teenage brothers blushed at this comment.
People in the old times couldn’t resist teasing. Seeing their embarrassed faces, Tang Yunshu decided to tease them further.
“Brothers, what kind of wives would you like? Come on, tell me.”
Second Brother shyly said,
“Ah, I’m going to chop wood.”
Third Brother added,
“I’m going to work too.”
Fourth Brother said the same,
“I’m going to work as well.”
Fifth Brother, noticing everyone looking at him, quickly said,
“Don’t look at me—I’m still young. The eldest brother should go first.”
Their father’s gaze fell on Tang Dashan, who blushed and waved his hand.
“With my leg like this, who would want to marry me?”
Tang Yunshu quickly said,
“Brother, I told you I can fix your leg. Once your leg heals, you’ll return to your handsome self. By then, our family will be wealthy, living in a brick and tile house. Matchmakers will surely come running, competing to arrange marriages for you brothers.”
Tang Dashan and Zhao Lanzhi laughed at the thought, imagining their family living in a brick house with matchmakers thronging the door.
Tang Dashan nodded and said,
“Yes, little sister, I trust you.”
Tang Yunshu continued,
“Brother, after about ten days of rest, I’ll start your surgery.”
Then, she suddenly slapped her forehead as if remembering something.
“Oh, Father, we haven’t delivered the pork yet. We should send it quickly before it spoils. You and Second Brother can deliver to Grandma’s house; Fifth Brother, deliver to the village head’s. As for Su Youtian’s family, I’ll go. Let’s wait on delivering to Uncle Li’s until we’ve saved enough, then we’ll bring extra gifts.”
Tang Dashan went to Su Youtian’s house and handed over a piece of pork to Zhang Xiuxiu.
“Sister-in-law, this pork was bought at the market this morning, very fresh—let the children eat and stay healthy.”
Zhang Xiuxiu tried to decline,
“Brother Dashan, you can’t do this. Your children need it more; Yunshu just recovered. Take it back quickly.”
Su Youtian also said,
“Dashan, what’s going on? Why are you giving me so much pork? Don’t you know about your own children? Take it back.”
Tang Dashan said,
“You see, Youtian, my daughter knows herbs. We’ve been up the mountains gathering them, and she even knows how to process them. Processed herbs are valuable, so we earned some money. Once we’ve saved enough, we can pay off the debts.”
Su Youtian was amazed.
“Yunshu recovered, and now she’s so capable? She didn’t know these things before.”
Tang Dashan explained,
“Honestly, remember that Taoist who once read my daughter’s fortune? You all know about it. He said she was missing a soul and a spirit. Well, that soul and spirit went to the celestial realm, and she apprenticed under an immortal master, who taught her many skills. The Taoist was right—my daughter is destined for wealth and status.”
Su Youtian laughed,
“Dashan, you’re blessed. A daughter with a celestial master—your family will enjoy a good life.”
“Haha, thank you for your kind words.”
Meanwhile, Tang Yunshu told Zhao Lanzhi,
“Mother, you and Second Brother deliver the meat to Grandma’s house. Tell my maternal uncles to also gather herbs from the mountain. Once they bring it here, I’ll handle the processing and take it to the pharmacy to sell. They won’t be shortchanged. Second Brother knows herbs—he can teach my uncles over a couple of days so they can recognize them.”
Zhao Lanzhi was touched.
“Yunshu, thank you for thinking of your uncles.”
“Mother, my uncles have always helped our family. We must remember to be grateful. I also bought two boxes of pastries—one for you, one for Grandma and Grandpa.”
“You’re such a good daughter.”
“Mother, you go ahead. I’ll handle dinner.”
“Alright, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, help your little sister with dinner.”
“Understood, Mother.”
After everyone left, Tang Yunshu asked,
“Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, what do you want for dinner tonight?”
“Meat—we have meat already.”
“Alright, then let’s make braised pork, stir-fried string beans, tomato and egg soup, and fish-flavored shredded pork.”
“Okay, Little Sister, tell us what to do and we’ll help.”
“Third Brother, peel the string beans; Fourth Brother, help me start the fire.”
Third Brother peeled the beans and asked,
“Little Sister, what’s a tomato? Fish-flavored shredded pork—does that use fish? We don’t have fish. Should I go catch some?”
“No, Third Brother. Tomato is a vegetable. Don’t we have it here?”
“Little Sister, never heard of a tomato. Let me see it.”
Tang Yunshu took out a tomato for them to see. Both Third and Fourth Brothers shook their heads.
“We don’t have this vegetable. Never seen it before.”
“Do they have it in town?” she asked.
“No, Little Sister. We haven’t seen it at any market stalls in town.”
“Perfect! We can plant some tomatoes and sell them at the inn. Third Brother, Fourth Brother, what do you think?”
“You’re right, Little Sister. Let’s plant some tomorrow. Luckily, it’s not too late in the season. But our garden plot is already full—there’s no space left.”
“Third Brother, can we still buy land now?”
“Not this season—it’s too late. Land can only be purchased after the autumn harvest, in winter. Little Sister, do you want to buy land?”